Clarke Goes Under the Radar to Win GUKPT Blackpool
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
The Blackpool GUKPT had a dramatic conclusion after Brian Clarke won the event having come to the final table as the short stack. Clarke remained at the bottom of the chip counts the whole way through the final table until he was heads-up with Zachary Ford, before he finally pulled off a comeback more shocking than that planned by the Jackson 5 for 2009.
Clarke found himself a table including circuit regulars Andreas Hoivold, Gareth Jones and Alan Vinson, and while he nursed his short stack, Hoivold and Jones went toe to toe for the chip lead over the course of the day. Hoivold was eventually eliminated in third, leaving Ford to polish off the chip-challenged Clarke.
The Scottish fairytale began right there. A series of all in confrontations saw Clarke run hot and he eventually took the chip lead from the former GCBPT winner. By the time the two got their stacks in with the A-K of Ford against the pocket Queens of Clarke, you knew the tournament was only going one way. Don't worry about the ace on the flop or the king on the turn - the dramatic two-outer on the river meant it was Clarke who snatched the title and £96,500 first prize.